April 9, 2014 (La Mesa)--The city of La Mesa kicks off “May is Drowning Prevention Month” with several free learning and prevention activities at the La Mesa Municipal Pool. On Saturday, April 12^th from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m., the following classes will be held:

By Nadin Abbott

April 10, 2014 (El Cajon) --Think of it as a contested divorce.

With a vote of four to one, the Grossmont Unified High School District (GUHSD) board made its intent clear. The majority does not wish to allow Alpine parents and students to leave the GUHSD and join forces with the Alpine Union School District. Board Members Robert Shield, Richard Hoy, Jim Kelly and Jim Stieringer voted against unification, while Board Member Priscilla Schreiber cast the lone vote in favor. 

Unification would allow the Alpine district to become a K-12 district, adding high school students so that the AUSD could build the long-promised high school that Grossmont has failed to build.  Not even a scathing Grand Jury report has been able to prod GUHSD members into taking action. The Grand Jury admonished the board to either agree to build the high school by the end of last year, or cooperate with unification efforts. Instead, the board has done neither.

By Miriam Raftery

Updated April 11, 2014 (El Cajon) – By a unanimous vote, the El Cajon City Council on Tuesday asked the City Manager to prepare a request for proposal for groups seeking to rent or lease space at the East County Performing Arts Center. 

The theater has been closed for several years, in need of major repairs. Recently Council voted to allocate funds for renovations and is now moving forward to attract additional tenants in hopes of reopening the theater  next year.

But some community members testified that they believe the city should first make good on its promise to hire a professional theater management company, before making commitment to lock in time blocks for groups such as the Rock Church, which wants to use the theater for church services on Sundays.

Photo: immigrant-owned businesses in San Diego’s Little Mogadishu, Little Saigon, and downtown El Cajon

April 9, 2014 (El Cajon)-At a special ceremony held last month, Katy Chapman received the California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 12 (San Diego and Imperial Counties) Part-Time Recognition Award.  Chapman, a Recreation Specialist with the City of El Cajon’s Recreation Department, was recognized for her years of dedication, enthusiasm, professionalism, and willingness to go above and beyond in her service to the organization and the community.  At the April 8 City Council meeting, the Mayor and Council congratulated her on this prestigious award.

April 10, 2014 (San Diego)--Empty your medicine cabinets of unused prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations across the county as part of Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Improper disposal of prescription medicines can harm the environment.

By Miriam Raftery

 J. Richmond also contributed to this ECM special report

Records obtained by ECM show longer response times in rural areas than urban communities; new substation won't increase staffing

April 10, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- Recently, Potrero resident Tarah Corey called 911 to report that someone in her area had been crying out and screaming for help and to send officers immediately. She was shocked to finally receive a call back from the Sheriff’s department 45 minutes later to check to see if the screaming had stopped, according to posts on the Mountain Empire Community Facebook page. While you would expect a quick response to such a dire and life-threatening situation, she learned the hard way in East County’s backcountry that’s not always the case.

April 10, 2014 (La Mesa) -- Our editor, Miriam Raftery, didn't have to look far to find a photo of the week. She snapped this picture in her home office of her cat, Rex, snuggled up with her dog, Ginger--who didn't seem to mind awakening form naptime to find the interloper occupying her space.

If only the whole world could get alone so well!

Our February 2014 shows are now online—including special reports on East County issues, holiday specials, interviews with top newsmakers and people making a positive difference in our community.  Click here to listen now online and to read a list of our interviews and guest.

Our guests in February included many local leaders, including Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, local authors, the Bayou Brothers, plus hear our latest investigative reports on issues ranging from wind farms to wildfires.

You can also hear our one-hour show live when it airs on KNSJ 89.1 FM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. and reruns Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m.  Or listen live online during those hours at www.KNSJ.org.

April 10, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Firefighters worry about shortage in reserve fire engines (10 News)
• Ratepayer Group: Proposed Settlement Of San Onofre Nuclear Costs 'Theft' (KPBS)
• Hide and seek at Ocotillo (Eco Report)
• San Diego-Baja Rail Line Has New Boosters (KPBS)
• MWD adopts unnecessary rate increases for 2015 and 2016 while over-collecting $350 million from ratepayers (Scoop San Diego)
• Should feral cats be euthanized? (UT San Diego)

STATE

• Solar energy: Park Service says project would harm Mojave preserve (Press Enterprise)
• Tree poachers are destroying California’s redwoods (Salon)
• Senator Leland Yee indicted (Sacramento Bee)
• California water plan unveils hardships to come as drought persists (Sacramento Bee)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

April 9, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County has some hot rods, hoofbeats, hoppin’ good fun with the Easter Bunny, and a Sweet 16 party! Click read more and scroll down for details.

By Miriam Raftery

April 9, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – As a slap in the face to women on Equal Pay Day today, Senate Republicans blocked passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act for women – for the third time. The measure failed due to lack of a single Republican vote. The bill had aimed to provide more effective remedies for women who are paid less than men for the same work.

California's Senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both Democrats, support the bill.  On the House side, San Diego Democratic Congresswoman Susan Davis is pushing for passage of a similar measure,  H.R. 377.  San Diego Democratic Congressman Scott Peters is a cosponsor of the bill, which local Democratic Congressman Juan Vargas also supports.  

East County Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter has previously voted no on a similar paycheck fairness measure for women, along with San Diego Republican Darrell Issa.

Chaparral Institute objects to ordinance due to potential environmental impacts and possible abuse of citizens' rights

By Miriam Raftery

April 5, 2014 (San Miguel) San Miguel Fire Board meets on April 9 at 5:30 in the fire station at 2850 Via Orange Way in Spring Valley. This week the board will consider an ordinance allowing the board to declare waste and certain vegetation a public nuisance – including  potentially the majority of native vegetation in the district.

By Miriam Raftery

April 5, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)  -- U.S. District Court Judge M. James Lorenz has issued a ruling in a case challenging the U.S. Department of Energy’s approval of a Presidential Permit issued for Sempra Energy's cross-border transmission line. The line would connect Sempra’s Energia Sierra Juarez Wind project in northern Baja, Mexico with SDG&E’s $435 million ECO substation now under construction.

Update: This suspect has been arrested.

April 8, 2014 (Rancho San Diego)-- Deputies with the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station want your help in finding a man wanted in connection with a string of commercial robberies, home invasions and car thefts in East County.